Parking garage makeover: Part 2

By Linda Barlow. Finishing Dynamics. 

Integrated design, fabrication and finishing make these sister companies a go-to team for inspiring exteriors. 

Holly Gotfredson, president of American Metalcraft Inc. (AMI) and its sister company, Finishing Dynamics, heads two companies that are redefining what’s possible in architectural metal design. Under her leadership, both AMI and Finishing Dynamics have become trusted partners for contractors and architects alike, delivering high-performing products that are built to meet demanding specifications and elevate aesthetic appeal.  

Part one of this article series details the story of Holly’s background in the art world and how this inspired her to create high-quality metal designs with high-quality finishing. In this part of the series, you’ll get to read about two major projects that have benefited from the holistic teamwork of AMI and Finishing Dynamics: the parking garage structures for Live! Casino & Hotel and the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia.  

Live! Casino and hotel blends form and functionality 

Voted Best Overall Gaming Resort and Best Overall in Dining and Entertainment in Pennsylvania by Casino Player Magazine, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is a one-stop destination in South Philadelphia’s Stadium District to enjoy the fast-paced action of four major professional sports teams, memorable entertainment, premier dining, upscale accommodations and world-class gaming. Its event center offers more than 15,500 square feet of customizable meeting and event space with ample, secure parking. 

Construction of Live! began in 2018 and continued during the COVID pandemic, with completion in 2021. The project received a GBCA Construction Excellence Award in 2021.  

Among the many contractors and subcontractors working on the project was EDA Contractors, which specializes in the exterior envelope of commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. EDA was tasked with providing watertight elevations for the building, along with fabricating and installing 90,000 square feet of panels, including 15,500 square feet of custom-designed and fabricated perforated metal panels from AMI for the casino/hotel’s parking garage. 

Jeff Dorneman served as EDA’s senior project estimator and manager for the job and said the project was unique in two significant ways. 

“First, it featured a new installation method called hybrid panelization, in which a subcontractor built the stud walls, sheathing and air barrier on large 10 x 15-foot panels, then delivered them to the job site, where everything was assembled,” Jeff said. “We installed the sub-framing, insulation and cladding in the field and taped the seams to create a monolithic air barrier, which allowed the interior building process to begin weeks earlier — a key consideration for a casino whose gaming license had an expiration date that could not be moved.” 

Second, the garage portion of the project was both unique in its design and its finished form. 

“The architect designed a nine-story parking deck with a ‘bride’s veil’ design in which 0.125-inch-thick perforated aluminum plate panels fabricated by AMI stand off the building by several feet, creating a curved and flowing effect,” he said, noting that the original nine-story design was rejected by the casino’s neighbor, Citizen’s Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies, which was concerned that the taller structure would obscure fan-cherished views of downtown. “A nine-story structure quickly became a five-story structure, but the architect wanted it to maintain its original look and feel.” 

Throughout the changing design-build process, EDA worked closely with engineers at AMI, who designed the sub-framing, structural aluminum tube framing and corner truss system to hold the perforated panels. AMI also fabricated a light trough at the base of some panel areas. 

“Communication between our team and the AMI team was fast, furious and flawless,” Jeff said. “We clicked and collaborated very well. They were always available to address questions, adjust to variable field conditions and come up with solutions on the fly.” 

The fact that AMI had an in-house finishing line capable of up to four-coat finishes through Finishing Dynamics was also an asset to the project, according to Jeff, who noted that four shades of white and beige were specified for the project. After dark, these off-white colors become the canvas for a spectacular, backlit light-and-video display that creates excitement and energy for visitors. 

“Finishing Dynamics did a great job matching the finish colors used on the perforated plate panels for the garage with the colors used on the aluminum composite material (ACM) panels for the casino and hotel, which also had a Kynar 500® -based coating,” he said. “Because you can see the backside of the garage screen wall from inside the garage, that needed to be coated as well, along with all the fasteners and sub-framing. The quality control exhibited by Finishing Dynamics during the color matching process helped keep the project on schedule.” 

Repeating a successful process 

Fast on the heels of the Live! Casino project, EDA again tapped AMI and Finishing Dynamics for another Philadelphia project — the garage at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC). The 493,039-square foot parking garage was the main feature of PPMC’s $60 million expansion project. It was designed to replace an existing four-story garage and reduce the total ground footprint used for parking. 

Brian Hee, EDA’s vice president of operations for the Philadelphia Metro area served as project manager for the PPMC project, which involved roofing and waterproofing elements, as well as a 37,000 square-foot perforated metal panel screen wall for the garage. EDA helped to steer the project away from the originally specified fiberglass reinforced panels (FRPs) to perforated metal panels fabricated and finished by AMI and Finishing Dynamics, after a poor experience they had with the other panel system and its supplier. 

“Lead times with the original supplier and FRP solution were an issue and based on our earlier experiences working with AMI and Finishing Dynamics, we knew we could get the aesthetic look the project’s architect wanted,” Brian said. “We also knew that we would get the product we needed when we needed it, so that our portion of the project didn’t negatively impact the general contractor or other trades on site.” 

The garage features a structurally expressive façade, with a bubble-like pattern that adds a touch of airiness and whimsy to an otherwise stalwart and institutional structure. It meets the city’s airflow and screening requirements in an elegant and unique way.  

“AMI’s custom-cutting capabilities mean we can accommodate designers’ every wish – from geometric patterns and organic designs to logos, landscapes, images and more,” Holly said. “For this project we fabricated 900 perforated panels with a variety of CNC water-jet, custom-cut ovals of different sizes.” 

In addition to the perforated screen wall panels, AMI fabricated structural aluminum tube framing and aluminum angle components for a substructure to attach the panels. As with the Live! Casino project, having design, fabrication and finishing services under one roof with AMI and Finishing Dynamics gave EDA peace of mind throughout the project. 

“Whenever you’re dealing with third-party painters, there are extra levels of logistical and timing issues that make a huge difference,” Brian said. “Holly and her team directly touch everything from field dimensioning to fabrication drawings to the QA stamp of approval on the finished product.” 

Finishing Dynamics’ use of Kynar 500® resin-based coatings also provided peace of mind to the project’s architect that the finish would be there for the long term. 

Giving back to women in manufacturing fields 

EDA’s Jeff and Brian noted that, in addition to the end-to-end capabilities, product quality and easy working relationship they get with AMI and Finishing Dynamics, the fact that the companies are a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) makes it easy to recommend them for future projects that require supply chain diversity. 

For Holly, having the WBE designation is more than just a checklist item; it is an integral part of her leadership position in the manufacturing industry community. She speaks regularly about careers in manufacturing to middle and high school students and young adults considering their future paths. 

“There are very few women role models and mentors in this field,” Holly concluded. “I am honored to be a female ambassador for the manufacturing industry with girls and young women. Manufacturing is no longer just a ‘dirty,’ timeclock-stamping job. It offers great opportunities for women to solve and innovate, elevate your personal and professional growth and become a business owner and industry leader.” 

Original article and photos source: Finishing Dynamics

Read about the origins of AMI and Finishing Dynamics in Part 1 of this article series.